Chojun Miyagi: The Founder of Goju-Ryu Karate

Chojun Miyagi (1888–1953) was the founder of Goju-Ryu, one of the world's major karate styles. Born in Naha, Okinawa, he began training as a boy under Kanryo Higaonna, a master of Naha-te who had studied martial arts in Fuzhou, China.

Miyagi followed his teacher's path and traveled to Fuzhou himself to deepen his knowledge of Chinese boxing. The journey transformed his karate: he created the kata Tensho ("revolving hands") and wove the soft, breathing-driven principles of Fujian White Crane kung fu into his art.

The name Goju-Ryu — "hard-soft style" — comes from a line in the Bubishi, the classic Okinawan martial arts manual: all things in the universe inhale soft and exhale hard. In 1933 the style was formally recognized by the Dai Nippon Butokukai, Japan's foremost martial arts authority.

Film fans may recognize the name: Mr. Miyagi, the wise teacher in The Karate Kid, was named in honor of the founder of Goju-Ryu.

Read more about Goju-Ryu karate at LA Karate: https://www.lakarate.pro/p/goju-ryu-karate.html

Sources: https://karate.org.nz/about-iogkfnz/miyagi-chojun-sensei/ , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C5%8Dj%C5%AB-ry%C5%AB , https://denofgeek.com/movies/the-karate-kid-true-story-behind-mr-miyagi/

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